Tag: enthusiasm

Ate too much (I mean really, who puts a full tub of roses in their guest bedroom?!);

Didn’t exercise enough;

Spent quality time with people/dogs I love.

Last week was a crazy-busy week for me. I needed a couple of days (weeks/months would be good too) to switch off and get back to basics again.

Recharged and gathered thoughts, ready for coming home and getting lots done.

I had a lot of thoughts and ideas for a variety of projects – arty and non-arty – and I’m looking forward to getting on with them. I only wish I had more time to dedicate to them all!

I’ve had a few people contact me for commissions over the last couple of weeks, which has been nice. I’m very short of time since I’m completely overflowing with ideas and inspiration at the moment, but I feel like I’d like to paint a couple of commissions this year.

Whilst waiting in the airport, my boyfriend and I partook in a round of Pass the pen(cil) to pass the time 🙂 :

In summary, life at the moment is a blur and a complete hive of activity. I’m enjoying it though and it has all (so far) been very rewarding. What a first month! 2018 is set to be a big one, I can feel it 😬

I enjoyed a great couple of hours recently with a friend I met a few months ago at a shamanic journeying meetup (that’s a whole different blog post!) in Liverpool. Being a busy bee means I struggle to get to them on time and I’ve not been for a while, so it was good to catch up with Alan and share ideas around blogging (you can pay Alan a visit here), writing, photography, art, and general self care and wellbeing.

I take a lot of enjoyment from spending time with likeminded people; I have a lot of interests and understandably not every person in my life aligns with all of them, so I appreciate the ‘same wavelength’ chats and informal brainstorming sessions when they happen.

Alan introduced me to the art of Pass the Pencil (there are more examples on his blog), which I had never done before.

It’s very simple. All you need is:

a piece of paper,

something to draw with,

preferably 2 people sitting opposite each other, but I suppose you could always pass from one hand to the other if you’re flying solo… 🤔

Essentially each person (or hand) draws a line without lifting the pencil off the paper, whilst ensuring their new line crosses at least one existing line. The results are fun, abstract, spontaneous, collaborative drawings/doodles/whatever you like to call them.

I honestly really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it as a loosening up exercise before settling down to create whatever you’re working on, or even just as something to do with a friend if you’ve got 5 mins to spare. No artistic talent required! Just the willingness to let go and see what happens 🙂

It was good fun surveying our masterpieces when we finished, turning them the other way round so we could see it from each other’s viewpoint. All kinds of fun and unexpected images came up! Try viewing the images from different angles and see what you can make out.

If you’re looking for a lighthearted, relaxed way to pass the time, pass the pencil! I’d love to hear what you think and if you give it a go for yourself, let me know if you enjoyed it as much as I did 🙂

I’m full of ideas again (still?). Tiring myself out with it all (but in a good way, surely?) and at the same time can’t sleep because there’s so much to do!

(Well, truth be told, I went to bed at 7pm because I was so worn out and have woken up at 4.30am – much to Maggie’s annoyance. I suppose I’ve had enough sleep really. Not the lie in I was aiming for though… )

Anyway, here I am in the middle of the night, propped up on Big Ted, thinking arty thoughts.

To frame or not to frame? (Probable future blog post title)

How do I want my website to look?

When do I include a ‘shop’ section?

Ring the framers at 11am.

What is my end goal?

What is my current goal?

Don’t forget to plan an exhibition.

Am I creating content I want to create or am I creating what I think other people want to see?

Am I doing both? It’s early days yet so probably difficult to tell at the moment.

I want (need, really, if I’m going to maintain my own level of interest) to stay true to myself and my ideas. I’m not a world famous artist (yet!), I’m learning the ropes with regards to websites, blogs, marketing etc, I’m fitting this in around a full time job plus other general life commitments.

I don’t know what people want to see. Maybe they don’t want to see anything! The plan is to create content that I enjoy and am happy/proud to put my name to. Law of averages means someone else out there in the Big Wide World will enjoy it too.

I intend to continue on my little self-initiated journey, doing what feels good and what feels right; documenting it as I go. There’s really not much more to it. The whole reason behind the name ‘art and sensibility’ is I really tap into all of my senses and that’s where I draw (excuse the pun) my inspiration from.

Ooh, speaking of authenticity, I must create some certificates to go with my artwork. *adds to mental to-do list*

Right, now I’ve rambled on and got that out of my head, I wonder if I can get back to sleep for a bit…

I have an absurd number of ideas coming to me at the moment, spanning pretty much every aspect of my life. Ideas around tasks I’m involved with at work; ideas around my fitness, and working to bring my training back up to where it was; ideas of ‘secret work’ (https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accidental-creative/id93424211?mt=2&i=1000395029220) that I want to open myself up to. Hands down, the most exciting ideas of them all are the ones relating to my art. I’m buzzing with motivation and enthusiasm! My ideas are literally going between me and my sleep, and when they’re not, I’m dreaming about them. I wake up full of visions from my dreams but have to shelve them while I go to work. Funnily enough, I think one of the biggest repercussions so far from all this excitement is a big lesson in patience and self control 😫 “my job is my patron!” (Repeat as required).

I want to empty my head of all the visions and feelings and curiosities that are filling it. Not so I can be free of it – not at all – but so I can embrace it and explore the new directions it may lead me in. To be all-consumed by something that sets your senses on fire: I’d say it’s definitely a blessing and a curse. I wouldn’t want to be without it though! The excitement at what my future holds outweighs all the frustrations I might feel along the way. I can’t wait to see what comes next!